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  • Significant decrease in tomato, pepper prices –Findings

    Significant decrease in tomato, pepper prices –Findings

    Consumers who were forced to switch from tomato stew/soup to the alternatives can go back to their favourite tomato dishes as there is availability and a notable drop in the price.

    This is said to be due to the commencement of the new harvest season and the July/August rain breaks. “The new harvest season has started”, said the National Chairman of the Association of Tomato Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria Alhaji Sani Danladi, while explaining the reason behind the price decrease.

    According to him, farmers who planted in the past months are currently harvesting which explains why the price is coming down. “The rain break is another reason,” the chairman added.

    The Managing Partner of Prasino Farms, Abiodun Olorundero also attributed the price drop to the new harvest season of tomato/pepper in the northern part of the country along with the present rain break that started in July.

    “Farmers are harvesting their tomato/pepper plants that survived during the rainy seasons as well as those grown with irrigation,” he said. “This together with the present rain break is what is responsible for the price drop.”

    Visits to markets such as Oyigbo[Yaba], Ketu and Berger in Lagos, have revealed that there had been reductions in prices, with large baskets of tomatoes now ranging from N55,000 to N60,000, down from a high of N150,000. This shift is attributed to the influx of produce from the northern regions, particularly Hausa tomatoes and peppers.

    At Ketu Market, a crate of tomatoes has decreased to N30,000 from N55,000, while habanero peppers have dropped to an average of N25,000 from N55,000.

    Read Also: Scarcity: 11 alternatives to tomatoes stew

    Similarly, Berger Market has seen large baskets of tomatoes decrease from N50,000 to N60,000 from N150,000 to N200,000. The reduction extends to other varieties, with the largest sack of habanero pepper now at N19,500, down from N200,000 to N230,000.

    In Abuja, at Dutse Market, tomatoes and peppers have also seen price reductions. A basket of tomatoes is now N8,000, down from N13,000 to N15,000, and red bell peppers are at N7,500, down from N12,000.

    This drop in the prices of tomatoes/pepper generated a lot of reactions from consumers. “I had already budgeted N8,000 just for tomato and fresh pepper but on pricing the products I was surprised at the low price the Mallam called, said an excited Mrs. Vero Atuche.

    “I thought it was a joke, so I approached another Mallam and got the same good price. So instead of spending N8,000, I ended up spending only N4,000 on fresh tomatoes and pepper.

    “I had no idea that the price had decreased so I had already made up my mind to cook the vegetable sauce we have been using to eat rice since the prices of tomatoes escalated,” explained Madam Fumi.

    Continuing, “My children hate that vegetable stew but I had no choice so you can imagine my joy and surprise when I saw that the prices had dropped. I just ditched the green vegetables and bought fresh tomatoes, my children will be very happy.”

    So many reasons have been attributed to the scarcity and the over 500 percent increase in the prices. Alhaji Abubakar Sanni, a trader at the Ile-Epo Market, Abule- Egba, Lagos, credited the development to the high cost of transporting the commodities and the prevailing insecurity in some parts of the North.

    Reports and market surveys revealed that the recent outbreak of ‘tuta absoluta,’ a devastating pest that affects tomatoes, in farmlands located in Kaduna and Kano, both of which are significant producers of tomatoes, caused the catastrophic price surge in tomatoes. This rise in prices, amounting to over 200 percent, had a crippling effect on Nigeria’s agricultural sector, further fueling the country’s already precarious inflation crisis and causing widespread economic hardship for its citizens.

    The Minister of Agriculture, Senator Abubakar Kyari, said that a severe infestation of the tomato crop is the reason for the scarcity and elevated prices of the essential commodity in the country.

    In a statement via his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Kyari referred to the infestation causing tomato scarcity as ‘Tomato Ebola’ or ‘Tomato Leaf Miner.’

    Recall that it was reported then that a basket of tomatoes was selling for as high as N150,000 in some parts of the country, according to a market survey .

    In the light of the above, many families were forced to embrace delicious, nutritious stews, soup, sauce and gravy which they used as alternatives to tomato stews such as egusi stew, ofe akwu, curry, garden egg stew,gravy, palm oil sauce, obe ata iru, pumpkin leaf sauce, baobab leaf stew, ofada stew, vegetable goulash. Now that tomatoes/peppers are out, we pray you do not abandon these new dishes entirely.

    Despite these fluctuations, the market remains subject to the cyclical nature of harvests, with traders adjusting prices based on supply and demand dynamics.

    The recent surge in tomato prices had been a concern, following the impact of the tomato leaf miner, ‘tuta absoluta,’ which previously led to a supply shortage.

    However, the current increase in supply has begun to stabilize prices.

  • Scarcity: 11 alternatives to tomatoes stew

    Scarcity: 11 alternatives to tomatoes stew

    Mrs. Chineye Okey is a regular visitor to the Ile-Epo Market, Abule-Egba, Alimosho LG, Lagos State.

    She had not been to the market for more than a month now, but last Saturday, she decided to visit the market. Unaware of the changes in the prices of goods and foods, Okey gingerly walked through the market, meticulously weaving her way through the crowd, while pricing various items, to her chagrin, she realized that rather than the prices of goods coming down, they were still going up.

    She walked through the yam section of the market which is now the exclusive preserve of the rich, same with the vegetable section.

    Frustration and dejection etched on the faces of women who had come to the market to buy tomatoes and pepper as they were haggling with the Hausa traders, they never envisaged that the prices of goods were going to be that expensive. Many of them had come to buy fresh tomato/pepper to prepare the traditional meal of rice and tomato stew.

    Despite the recent rumors in town of tomato prices coming down, Okey said that she was surprised that a medium basket-size tomato she bought for N90,000 in early June this year was sold for N120,000. Many of the women dejectedly left Ile-Epo Market without fresh tomatoes and pepper.

    When our correspondent paid a visit to the two major markets noted for fresh foods in Lagos, Mile 12 Market along Ikorodu Road, and Ile-Epo Market on the Lagos- Abeokuta Road, at the time of writing this report, the biggest basket size of tomato was being sold between N150,000-N160,000. The medium size basket cost N110,000-N120,000, while the small basket was sold for N80,000-N90,000. Meanwhile, a small plastic bucket of tomatoes costs between N4,500-N5,000.

    However, early this year the same big basket of tomatoes sold for between N12,000-N15,000 while the medium-sized basket of tomatoes sold for N10,000-N11,000. The small basket went for N8,000-N9,000 and the small plastic bucket sold for N1,500-N2,000.

    About two months ago, the lowest price for fresh pepper was N200 but now less than that size of pepper cost N500. The lowest price for pepper is now N500, the same thing applies to fresh tomatoes.

    Though the increase in prices cut across every section of the economy and every foodstuff, tomatoes are a very versatile food product in Nigeria. It’s a major staple food. There is virtually no family in Nigeria that does not use tomato/pepper to cook, so whatever happens to it, affects nearly every family in the country.

    So many reasons have been attributed to the scarcity and the over 500 percent increase in the price. Alhaji Abubakar Sanni, a trader at the Ile-Epo Market credited the development to the high cost of transporting the commodities and the prevailing insecurity in some parts of the North.

    Read Also: NGO urges govt to stop deforestation to boost tomatoes, vegetables production 

    Shehu Jubrin, the chairman of Mile 12 International Market Lagos, blamed insufficient supply, insecurity, and infestation for the outrageous price hike of tomato and pepper.

    Looking for alternatives

    While the price of tomatoes continues to rise, there are about ten delicious, nutritious stews, soups, sauces, and gravy that can be used as an alternative to tomato stews. These delicacies have always been there, people have been cooking them but not everyone is aware of them there are:

    Egusi stew: This stew can be enjoyed with rice, beans, yam, plantain, potatoes etcetera. Speaking with Mrs. Ebere Amarachi who has a family of six, she explained that she buys a 400g cup size of egusi which sells for N1,400. She blends the egusi, heat  palm oil, and slightly fries onions and 70 grams of tomato paste. She then adds the egusi, frying it slightly after which she adds the meat stock, water, crayfish, and her seasonings. She adds fresh curry leaves last. This quantity of egusi stew, according to her, serves her family generously three times.

    Ofe Akwu: This stew is made with palm fruit juice. For a family of six, two cups of 400g palm fruits could be served up to three times. Ingredients needed are palm fruit concentrate, beef/chicken/fish, scent leaf, crayfish, seasonings, onions, and pepper. Some people now add ginger juice. For Delta-style banga, one will add Delta spices.

    Garden egg stew: This stew serves as an excellent substitute for tomato stew. Essential ingredients include garden eggs[purple aubergine, white or green], palm oil, smoked fish, ground pepper, rinsed iru[fermented locust beans], onions, crayfish, and salt to taste.

    Pumpkin leaf sauce: Known locally as ugu, pumpkin leaves are very popular in Nigeria. This stew is not only delicious but very nutritious. Quick to prepare. It requires chopped pumpkin leaves, beef or chicken, meat stock, vegetable oil, chili pepper, onions, seasonings, and salt to taste. Iru is optional.

    Palm oil sauce: As the name implies, this tasty sauce goes perfectly well with yam, boiled unripe plantain, and beans. Essential ingredients include palm oil, onions, pepper, and salt to taste.

    Obe ata iru: This goes well with white rice, yams, beans, and etcetera. Ingredients, combination of pepper, iru, much onions, seasonings, beef/chicken/fish[optional] palm oil, and salt to taste

    Baobab Stew: A northern delicacy. Another name for it is miyan kuka. It is a favourite among the Hausa tribe and it is usually served with white rice. Key ingredients are beef, onions, dried fish, pepper, pounded kuka[baobab] leaves, dawadawa[fermented dried seeds of African locust bean], yaji [suya seasoning], a pinch of potash, palm oil, seasonings and salt to taste.

    Ofada stew: Commonly called Ayamase. Ofada stew is typically served with ofada rice but it also goes well with ordinary rice, beans, spaghetti, pasta, yam, unripe boiled plantain, etc. Essential ingredients include unripe habanero peppers, green tatashi or green bell peppers, locust bean seasoning [iru, ogiri, okpei or dawadawa], red palm oil, onions, crayfish, assorted meat and fish.

    Curry: Curry can be chicken curry, beef curry or goat meat curry. It is excellent on white rice, yams, pasta, beans, potato, boiled unripe plantain etc. Major ingredients are the meat, vegetable oil, corn flour for thickening, garlic, ginger, turmeric, coriander, cumin, coconut milk, seasonings, chopped fresh curry leaves[optional], salt and black pepper.

    Gravy: Just like the above it can be chicken gravy, beef, fish, vegetable turkey, or goat meat gravy. The key ingredients are meat of your choice, curry powder, thyme, garlic, onions, corn flour, ginger, cloves, seasons, and salt to taste. One can also add vegetables like diced carrots or string beans.

    Vegetable goulash: This stew can substitute for tomato stew anytime. It is delicious and packed with nutrients. Key ingredients are Irish potato or sweet potato, onions, carrots, vegetable oil, garlic, fresh pepper, corn flour, chopped curry leaves, ground black pepper, cauliflower [optional], and small tomato paste.

  • NGO urges govt to stop deforestation to boost tomatoes, vegetables production 

    NGO urges govt to stop deforestation to boost tomatoes, vegetables production 

    To address vegetable shortages in Nigeria, Solidaridad, a non-governmental organization supporting agriculture, has urged the government to halt indiscriminate deforestation. 

    This practice negatively impacts the environment and worsens the declining productivity of vegetables.

    Solidaridad made this appeal in Kaduna during an event marking the end of its five-year intervention in Kaduna and Kano states, aimed at transforming the Nigerian vegetable market.

    Speaking at the event, Solidaridad’s Senior Programme Officer, Earnest Ita, said, the government also needs to enact gender-inclusive policies and take deliberate actions to ensure increased access to agricultural land, farm inputs and infrastructure for women and other vulnerable groups at state and LG levels.

    According to him, “Solidaridad gained entry into Kaduna State in 2020 through a Sustainable Development Goal Project, Transforming Nigeria’s Vegetable Markets, being implemented in 6 LGAs of Kaduna State, which are: Kudan, Kubau, Makarfi, Sabon Gari, Zaria, Soba.

    “We work with a consortium of partners with separate roles in delivering different project components whose target is smallholder vegetable farmers, to enable them to improve yield and income, health and contribute to household nutrition and national food security,” he said.

    Read Also: UK, FAO to curb pollution, deforestation

    He listed some of the achievements of the project in the six LGAs in Kaduna State to include mobilization of 7,750 women and 6,030 youth to participate in the SDGS, facilitation of the formation of 78 women and 60 youth vegetable farmer groups and supported the establishment of 89 Village Loan and Saving Association (VLSA) groups 

    He however called on the Ministry of Local Government and the relevant state offices responsible for Chieftaincy Affairs to encourage that gender-inclusive policies are effectively supporting women and other vulnerable persons’ access to productive assets in the state.

    “The Ministry of Agriculture and relevant departments and agencies of government should review or enact relevant policies, and enforce these towards halting indiscriminate deforestation which impacts the environment negatively, and heightens the declining productivity of vegetables in Kaduna State. 

    “The State and LGAs consider an upward budget review on Vegetable development and budget releases to enhance increased vegetable seedling production, improved extension services and setting up aggregation centres,” he said.

    Participants at the event who included traditional rulers, government officials, vegetable farmers, civil society actors and international development partners rose with a commitment to work collaboratively towards transforming Nigeria’s vegetable market in the State.

    They also laid emphasis on the need for continuous dialogue, monitoring, and evaluation to ensure the sustainability and building a gender equity and social inclusion spine across all institutionalized initiatives.

  • Six Nigerian soups you can cook without Tomatoes

    Six Nigerian soups you can cook without Tomatoes

    Nigerians are known for their love of stew, with tomatoes being a staple ingredient in many traditional dishes.

    However, due to the recent surge in tomato prices, many are looking for alternative sauces to accompany their meals.

    Here are six economical and locally sourced stew options that don’t rely on tomatoes:

    1. Banga Stew: Known as Ofe Akwu, Banga Stew is a palm nut stew native to the Igbo tribe. Although extracting palm oil juice from palm nuts can be time-consuming, the resulting dish is deliciously rewarding. Ingredients needed are palm fruits or palm fruit concentrate, beef, dry fish, vegetables (scent leaves for Ofe Akwu or dried, crushed bitter leaves for Delta-style Banga soup), onions, crayfish, stock cubes, iru, salt, and chilli pepper to taste.

    2. Ofada Stew: Commonly called Ayamase, Ofada Stew is typically served with Ofada rice, a special local variety. However, it can also accompany regular white rice, yam, plantain, and even spaghetti. The simple ingredient list includes unripe habanero peppers, green Tatashe or green bell peppers, locust bean seasoning (iru, ogiri okpei, or dawadawa), red palm oil, onions, crayfish, assorted meat, and fish.

    3.  Baobab Leaf Stew: A northern Nigerian delicacy, Miyan Kuka, or Baobab Leaf Stew, is a favourite among the Hausa tribe and is usually served with white rice. Key ingredients are beef, onions, dried fish, hot peppers (washed, soaked, and flaked), pounded kuka (baobab) leaves, dawadawa (fermented dried seeds of the African locust bean), yaji (suya seasoning), a pinch of potash, palm oil, seasoning cubes, and salt to taste.

    Read Also: Six cooking substitutes for fresh tomatoes

    4. Garden Egg Sauce: A popular delicacy in southern Nigeria, Garden Egg Sauce serves as an excellent substitute for tomato stew. Essential ingredients include garden eggs (purple aubergine, white, or green), palm oil, smoked fish, ground pepper (chilli or scotch bonnet), rinsed iru, onions, crayfish, and salt to taste. This versatile sauce pairs well with rice, yam, or plantain.

    5. Bitter Leaf Stew (Ofe Onugbu) – a bitter leaf soup made with bitter leaves, onions, garlic, and optional meat or chicken.

    6. Pumpkin Leaf Sauce: Known locally as Ugu, pumpkin leaves are widely used in Nigeria. Pumpkin Leaf Sauce is not only flavorful but also healthy, consisting of a sauté of fluted pumpkin leaves and onions. Quick to prepare, this sauce requires chopped pumpkin leaves, seasoned beef or chicken (optional), meat stock, vegetable oil, chilli pepper, onions, seasoning, and salt to taste.

    These sauces offer a delicious and affordable alternative to tomato-based stews and can be enjoyed with a variety of staple foods like rice, yam, plantain, and more.

    They also showcase the diversity and richness of Nigerian cuisine and highlight the abundance of local ingredients available in the country.

  • Lagos farmers trained in tomatoes production

    Lagos farmers trained in tomatoes production

    The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in collaboration with the Lagos State Agriculture Development(ADA) Authority on Friday organised training for youths and women on tomatoes production.

    Speaking during the programme held at the ADA’s office in the Oko –Oba area of Agege, the Lagos State Coordinator of Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mrs. Omolara Abimbola-Oguntuyi explained that the training was conceived in order to encourage massive tomato production in the southern parts of the country, which Lagos belongs to.

     ”’ Of late, prices of tomatoes in the market of recent have gone up and unreachable, hence, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture felt that it was high tie we brought in farmers to be involved in the cultivation and production of tomatoes.

    ”There is no doubt that Lagos is an urban environment but there is more that we can do to make sure that whatever is coming in (from other parts of the country will supplement whatever we can do in the State, so that prices of tomato can come down.

     ”Women are mostly hit by the skyrocketing prices of tomato because they are the ones that cook in the house, so the more women we can bring into the production of tomato the better so that prices can come down.”

    Read Also: Fayemi shocked us with decision to grant autonomy to our subordinate community —Efon-Alaaye monarch

    In his remarks, the Agriculture Officer from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Sola Lawal explained that the training was initiated with a view to empower farmers with the capacity to cope with the effect of climate change confronting tomato farmers in the southern region of the country.

    ” The main idea behind this training is to increase the capacity of farmers in the agriculture value chain against the backdrop of climate change and tomato is one of the value chains.

    ”This training is taking place in all states of the southern zone of Nigeria and what we intend to achieve with the training is to empower our farmers with information and tools that would enable them to perform and adapt better in the face of climate change that is impacting food production negatively.

    The Programme Manager of LSADA, Mrs. Tawakalit Kosoko, who as represented by the agency’s Director of Technical Services, Dr. Oladipo Opadokun said the agency would monitor the impact of the training through agriculture extension officers in different parts of the State.

    ”We have agriculture extension officers in the various zones of the State and the impact of this training would be known through proper monitoring of the participants for necessary follow up on their improvement.”

  • Driver sued for stealing tin tomatoes

    A 35-year-old driver, Adeleke Bamgbose, who allegedly stole three cartons of tin tomatoes, worth N45,000, was yesterday arraigned at a Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State.

    The accused, whose address was not given, was arraigned on a one-count charge of stealing.

    Prosecutor Akpan Ikem told the court the accused allegedly committed the offence on May 23, at Seme Border.

    He said the items belonged to the complainant, Mrs. Senami Adeife.

    “The accused was supposed to deliver the items to the buyer in Badagry, but he took them to the market and sold them at a cheaper price,” Ikem said.  He said the offence contravened Section 285 of the Criminal law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    Chief Magistrate Mr. Jimoh Adefioye granted the accused N100,000 bail with one surety.

    He adjourned the case till June 25 for further hearing.

  • FUTA teaches farmers to grow bigger tomatoes

    The Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) has begun the extention of the cultivation of the new variant of tomatoes it developed to the larger society.

    FUTA, through its School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology (SAAT), recently organised a Practical Field Training for selected farmers and agroprenurs on Greenhouse production of the Eva F1 tomatoes and other vegetables at the Teaching and Research Farm of the institution.

    The Eva F1 Tomato is five times bigger in size and can produce four times more paste than what is available in the market. Also, it has a shelf life of over two weeks from day of harvest.

    Highlighting practical steps for production of new variant of tomatoes in the Green House, the farm’s Chief Agricultural Superintendent, Mr. Mike Fadimiroye said the Green house ensures large production using a small area thus enhancing management of limited resources.

    He said the advantages of the Greenhouse include control of insect pests from accessing the crop, which is a part of integrated pest management strategy.

    Fadimiroye said the Greenhouse should be kept clean, sharp and hot objects kept out, and door always shut.

    He said soil analysis prior to farming would help the farmer decide on the best system of farming to adopt.

    Fadimiroye said the indeterminate variety of tomato such as EVA-F1 and Larisa mature in about two months in a green house  after transplanting, making it 90 days from nursery to maturity and harvesting could continue for another three months.

    Depending on good management, he said farmers could reap 1-2 tons of tomato in one production cycle.

    The Dean of the school, Prof Timothy Amos said the major goal of the school was to make significant contribution towards attaining food security in Nigeria.

    He said the Tomato Project was aimed at enabling farmers and citizens practice organic tomato farming and to guarantee the consumption of healthy, wholesome vegetables.

    FUTA farm Manager Mr. Olajide Adedayo said the Eva F1 seedling was sourced from Israel and carefully developed in FUTA’s Green House under controlled temperature.  Adedayo described the training of farmers to cultivate the new variety as the actualisation of the mandate of the University to put science to work for the society.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Joseph Fuwape, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development), Prof Philip Oguntunde, described the project as a right step in the right direction.

    He said the university must impact the lives of the community through appropriate transfer of knowledge. Fuwape said agriculture must take its place as the mainstay of the economy, especially when petroleum resources are fast dwindling.

    He urged the farmers to use their knowledge for benefit their lives and the society at large. He appealed to  governments, investors and institutions to partner the university to stimulate large-scale farming of the new variety of tomatoes and enhance its contributions to the economy, employment generation and spin off industries.

  • Growing tomatoes under Green House Initiative

    Growing tomatoes under Green House Initiative

    To promote diversification of the economy, many states have taken to farming. Akwa Ibom is into vegetable farming, growing tomotatoes and cucumber under its Green House Initiative to boost revenue generation. Joe Iniodu writes.

    If the  Akwa Ibom Employment and Enterprise Scheme (AKEES ) opened the people’s eyes to the wealth around them, especially in agriculture, San Carlos, a Mexican outfit reputed for mechanised farming and operating in Calabar,  Abeokuta,  Enugu,  Port Harcourt and Uyo, has come to deepen the persuasion that planting some hitherto imported vegetables, such as  tomatoes, and cucumber is  a goldmine.

    These vegetables are being grown under the Green House Initiative of Governor Udom Emmanuel in pursuit of the diversification of the economy.

    The Green House which is adjacent to the Ibom International Airport gate is a beauty to behold.

    Each of the houses draped in transparent enclosure has a landmass of one hectare with a farming model,   with promising high yield.  The Akwa Ibom State Government,  in partnership with the Mexican group, has allocated 10 hectares for the cultivation of these vegetables.

    For now,  four hectares have been deployed while the remaining six are awaiting preparation and  cultivation. Of the four that have been deployed, one has been cultivated with tomatoes which are being harvested. Another is also  ready for tomatoes cultivation while one is deployed for cucumber.

    There is yet another which is almost ready for fresh cultivation.  The production manager in charge of cultivation, Mr. Habbakuk Orhernnandec confirmed that the projection is to cultivate the 10 hectares this year.

    The Green House model of cultivation is a cutting edge method with the inevitability of rich yield. It uses hydroponic system. Hydroponic method is the growing of plants in nutrient solutions with or without an inert medium as soil. Each of the Green Houses are crisscrossed with pvc hose which are buried in wrapped cellophanes that contain coconut fibre or soil. The hose convey water and the solutions to plants which roots are also buried in the cellophane sags.

    The roots of the plants sprout from the wrapped cellophanes which has water to irrigate the plant and keep the condition of the place humid to combat the heat which the enclosure perennially generates.

    Habbakuk said the coconut fibre is good for tomatoe as it helps in controlling the plant but pointed out that the challenge is that the fibre is imported into the country from Mexico as there is no technology to process the coconut byproduct into fibre. It is in lieu of such challenge that soil is also used.

    From the yield witnessed on that day of harvest, if all the allocated hectares are duly cropped , the tomatoes needs of the state would be reasonably met. Tomatoes have about 90 days span from nursery to when they are actually planted to fruition and  harvesting. Harvesting may be carried out between two and three times a week. For one hectare , each harvest comes in tonnes giving  assurance of increased revenue to the farmer and others within the value chain. Perhaps some of the advantages associated with tomatoes cultivation is its short span to maturity;  its value as domestic and industrial necessity; its value as an income earning produce; its receptiveness in the market; its popularity as a produce; its well known health value and lastly, being a non-seasonal all year round produce. These factors make tomatoes cultivation an attractive engagement.

    But the Production Manger, Mr Habbakuk in his interaction with yours truly submitted that while he admits that engaging in tomatoes cultivation is a goldmine,  the hiccups associated with the enterprise have hurdles to scale and many rivers to cross.

    Of course even without probing, it is obvious that storage and preservation are still challenges that are yet to be surmounted.  Off takers and other buyers are therefore often required immediately after harvest to help in the evacuation of the produce to either final consumers or factories where paste are produced. For Mr Habbakuk,  the most disheartening challenge is access to fertiliser.

    According to him, only three companies import the item into Nigeria, noting that the inadequacy has given room for a shortfall in supply of these important inputs which application would increase yield and revenue.

    The production manager who is in- charge of cultivation reiterated that Nigeria is too vast for only three companies to monopolise the importation of such critical items.

    Habbakuk and his colleagues lauded Governor Emmanuel for conceiving of the partnership and practically taking steps towards its realisation, maintaining that the partnership between San Carlos and the state government would record significant mileage in production and engagement.

    It was a regalling sight to behold as women engaged as farm hands and who were on that day harvesting sang eulogies for Governor Emmanuel whom they said had put food on their table through the initiative.  They however charged him replicate the same initiative in other senatorial districts to boost the production  of the vegetables and broaden the tapestry of engagement for Akwa Ibom people.

    The agricultural sector has been known worldwide to be one of the largest employers  of labour.  Its value chain also helps in widening participation.  In the case of the intending ten hectares,  the Green House at full capacity utilisation would engage a huge number of Akwa Ibom people. In the interim, about 74 workers, according to the General Manager, are engaged in construction, production and operations.

    Yet, they are those who are not engaged directly, but provide ancillary services that are salient to the chain. The basket makers, transporters, owners of grinding machines and market women are also part of the chain.

    Nigeria has been run as a monolithic economy for decades. The clamour for diversification also started decades ago and remained mere political rhetoric till recently.  The slump in the price of oil in the last three years and the attendant decline in accruable revenue has impacted adversely on the Nation’s long held habit of importation which depletes foreign exchange and puts  the economy on a low tide.

    The reality has compelled the review of the nation’s agricultural policy and necessitated its choice as the diversification option. Interestingly,  states that have chosen this path are already reaping bountiful benefits.  Nasarawa and Anambra are states that have braced to the new challenge and taken up the gauntlet of midwifing a diversification.  They have stirred up some kind of agricultural revolution in their states. Akwa Ibom is unequivocally part of the revolution, but in a rather quiet and subdued tone. The people of the state must be grateful that the governor is not a spectator that is content with watching the revolution in other states.

    He has made the state part of the revolution through vibrant agricultural policies,  programmes and partnership. The distribution of improved seedlings of some crops, coordinated access  to inputs like fertilizer,  the cocoa maintenance scheme, the coconut refining plant, the various rice farms springing up in the State, the cassava processing plant, the palm oil mills, the hatchery at Mbiaya Uruan and many other initiatives are part of the concerted effort of the Udom administration to rewrite the narrative of agro business in the State.

     

    • Joe Iniodu is a public affairs analyst.
  • Preserving tomatoes/pepper till next season

    Preserving tomatoes/pepper till next season

    It only took a trip to Mile 12, Ketu Market in Lagos, the popular fruit and vegetable market, for us to change the focus of our writing for this week. The sight of rotten heaps of tomato and pepper clearly calls for urgent government/individual attention to factor out ways of utilising and preserving these highly perishable vegetables.

    This is usually the season of tomato, bonnet pepper and other types of red pepper in Nigeria. At this season, a big basket of tomato that normally sells for between N9,000-N10,000 sells for about N4,000-N5,000. The same thing applies to pepper but within the next three months this same product will become so scarce in the market that the current price will triple.

    Unfortunately, tomato fruit from the plant Solanum Lycopersicum which a majority of Nigerians use daily though very rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants can hardly remain fresh for one week if not properly refrigerated. Regrettably, regular refrigeration is out of the question for most Nigerians as the government has found it beyond them to provide its citizens with electric supply.

    The good news, however, is that we can still preserve this product which is classified as fruit, berry and vegetable. Though it originated from South and Central Africa, it has become almost indispensable because of its various uses.

    It is enjoyable when eaten raw or in soups, sauces, salad or even in juices and drinks. It is regarded as a super food because the health benefits are almost endless.

    Improves vision: Vitamin A, present in tomatoes, helps to improve your eyesight as well as prevent night-blindness and macular degeneration.

    Helps fight cancer:  According to studies, tomatoes contain large amounts of the antioxidant lycopene, that is effective in lowering the risk of cancer, especially lung, stomach and prostrate cancers.

    Maintaining  blood  health:  Research suggests that a single tomato can provide about 40% of the daily vitamin C requirement and also contains vitamin A, potassium, and iron that are essential for maintaining normal blood health. Vitamin K, which controls bleeding and blood clotting, makes tomatoes help in blood circulation.

    Reduces risk of heart disease: The lycopene in tomatoes can protect you against cardiovascular diseases. Consuming tomatoes regularly helps decrease the levels of cholesterol and triglyceride in the blood, reducing the deposition of fats in the blood vessels.

    Good for digestion: Eating tomatoes daily can keep your digestive system healthy as it prevents both, constipation and diarrhoea. It also prevents jaundice and effectively removes toxins from the body.

    According to the Women of Virtue [WOV] who had gone ahead to research into an effective means of tomato preservation, the preservation method outlined below can keep tomato for upward of one year. So let’s make hay while the sun shines. While we have abundance of this precious vegetable now, let’s preserve it for use in the days of scarcity.

    To preserve

    Needed:

    Tomatoes

    Glass jars, no plastics

    Big pot

    Cooker.

    Step 1-Wash tomatoes, add salt and boil for three minutes.

    Step 2-Blend tomatoes.

    Step 3-Put the blended tomato in a pot and boil till very dry, though try not to let it burn.

    Step 4-Let cool and then scoop into glass jar till full but leave at least an inch to the brim. Seal the jar properly with the cap.

    Step 5-Put tomato filled glass jars in a pot of water till it is completely submerged. Boil for about 10-15 minutes.

    Step 6-Bring jars out of water and allow to cool completely.

    Step 7-Store in a cool, dark place like a cupboard away from light.

    It is important that the jars are completely submerged in water during the boiling period. You can rest assured that as you boil the glass jars would not break.

    Also, you should use glass jars like BAMA mayonnaise jars with twist on.

    Ensure that you refrigerate, once a jar has been opened.

    Please experiment and let us have your experience.

    Additional report from Women of Virtue magazine, a publication of the Diocese of Lagos West Anglican Communion.

  • Tomatoes, fruits diet restores lungs damaged by smoking, says report

    Smokers who quit smoking and live on a diet high in tomatoes and fruits, particularly apples, have better chances of restoring their lung functions impaired by smoking, a new study finds.

    The study, published in the December issue of the European Respiratory Journal, said former smokers who eat more tomatoes and fresh fruits regularly saw a slower natural decline in lung function over 10 years.

    The study was conducted by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

    According to it, adults who on average ate more than two tomatoes or more than three portions of fresh fruits and vegetables a day had a slower decline in lung function, compared to those who ate less than one tomato or less than one portion of fruits, daily.

    Lung function starts to decline at around 30 and poor lung function is linked to higher risks of death from all diseases, including chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, heart disease and lung cancer.

    “A diet rich in fruits can slow down the lung’s natural aging process even if you have never smoked,” said Vanessa Garcia-Larsen, the study’s lead author, who is also an assistant professor in the Bloomberg School’s Department of International Health.

    Garcia-Larsen and her team examined diet and lung function of more than 650 adults from Germany, Norway and Britain in 2002 and performed lung function tests on the same group of participants 10 years later.

    The researchers found a more striking diet-lung-function among former smokers, who had around 80 ml slower decline over the 10-year period because their diets were highly rich in tomatoes and fruits.

    Such a result suggests that the nutrients in their diets are beneficial to repairing the lung damage done by smoking.

     

    •Source: NAN